Crime Drops in New Orleans for 2012

Crime in New Orleans dropped nearly eight percent in the last quarter of 2012, and by one percent for the year overall, according to numbers released today by the New Orleans Police Department.

Murders and rapes dropped by 18 percent in the last quarter of 2012, armed robberies by 32 percent, auto theft by nearly 34 percent, burglaries by more than 13 percent, and simple robberies by more than two percent. however, instances of assault were up 16 percent, and thefts were up more than four percent.

The numbers come from the city's Uniform Crime Report, a statistical rundown of crimes police agencies are required to submit to the FBI each quarter.

Compared to 2011, overall crime for the year was down nearly one percent, including a 16 percent-plus drop in rapes, and an armed robbery rate that dropped by more than eight percent.

"When our overall crime numbers are down, as well as our most violent crimes — murders, rapes and armed robberies — we know we're on the right path, and that it's safer for our residents in their homes as well as on the streets of New Orleans," said Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas in a press release touting the crime statistics. "We're confident that we will see an even greater reduction in violent crimes in the years ahead, and our use of smarter technology will continue to drive overall crime down."

There were a few categories of crime that rose over the course of 2012, however; including a 26 percent jump in simple robberies and a nearly 18 percent rise in assaults.

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